| Sanitation is an important issue in today's modern | | | | rules, but parents also have to take some |
| day care centers as more and more children find | | | | responsibility for cleanliness. This is a collaborative |
| it their "home away from home." There are an | | | | effort, between parents, providers and workers. |
| increasing number of families where both parents | | | | One of the easiest ways to ensure proper |
| are in the workforce, mainly out of financial | | | | sanitation is by frequent hand washing with |
| necessity, and the fear of sending a healthy child | | | | anti-bacterial soap. This is absolutely essential. |
| to day care and picking him or her up at the end | | | | Parents should inquire about hand washing and |
| of the day with a cold or worse, is often a | | | | infection control policies and discuss other |
| parent's worst nightmare. However, putting a child | | | | methods the day care center uses to keep toys, |
| in day care is sometimes the only option available | | | | utensils and play areas germ free. Every daycare |
| for working parents. | | | | center should have standard procedures in place |
| Fortunately, it is no longer considered a solution of | | | | dealing with diaper changing and disposal, food |
| last resort. Day care facilities are much cleaner | | | | preparation and clean up, bathroom cleaning and |
| and healthier today than in years past, thanks to | | | | sanitizing, and what happens when a child gets ill. |
| increased scrutiny and regulation. They have also | | | | Practicing good hygiene, frequent hand washing |
| become an important component in a child's | | | | and adhering to infection control protocol will keep |
| emotional and intellectual development. Receiving | | | | the spread of germs to a minimum, lessening the |
| stimulation from trained professionals and learning | | | | chance of illness in the children. Daycare centers |
| socialization skills are beneficial to a child's growth. | | | | have become a way of life in America and |
| However, despite increased efforts at maintaining | | | | parental dependence on them is projected to |
| proper sanitation, children in day care centers do | | | | grow in the coming years. Therefore, it makes |
| have a tendency to pick up and spread a variety | | | | sense that concerns about proper sanitation and |
| of germs. This, of course, is not touted as one of | | | | cleanliness will increase, too. |
| the benefits, nor part of the contractual | | | | Parents should do their part to practice the same |
| agreement! | | | | personal good hygiene at home, as the day care |
| Proper sanitation is critical in a day care center | | | | providers practice at the center. Parents should |
| environment, since so many children congregating | | | | also be responsible and keep their children home |
| in such close proximity become a breeding ground | | | | when they exhibit signs of illness, especially runny |
| for germs. Although state and local jurisdictions | | | | noses, upset stomachs and diarrhea. Mutual |
| require day care facilities to adhere to strict | | | | collaboration and cooperation between parents |
| guidelines and regulations, it is sometimes difficult | | | | and providers can keep contamination and |
| to keep everything spic and span all the time. | | | | sickness to a minimum. And isn't this everyone's |
| Frequent inspections by regulators will assure | | | | goal? |
| parents that day care centers are following the | | | | |